Chapter 16

Leo returned to the White House. He would be mentoring the Vice-President over the next two months and making sure he didn't get too comfortable in the chair. It would only be temporary, but there had to be a President during Jed's recovery which would be lengthy and slow.

"Doctor Martin?"

"Yes?"

Abbey was talking quietly with the doctor outside the ICU.

"Tell me the truth. How is my husband? What's his prognosis?"

"Mrs. Bartlet, he's as stable as any patient can be in this situation. It was rough there for a little while, but something has kicked in and he's getting stronger. He's still not ready to be extubated but that should come soon. That's really the next hurdle. But his vitals are getting stronger as each hour passes and we see no further evidence of bleeding."

"Do you think I can take a shower? I hate to be away from him for any length of time, but it has been over twenty-four hours since he was brought in and I hate for him to see me so disheveled. I mean, when he wakes up, I want him to see his wife looking good instead of like crap."

Dr. Martin smiled. He also wanted nothing more than to take a shower and a quick nap at the first available bed.

"I think it'll be okay. Your daughters are here and they can come get you if there's a problem. But I really don't think there will be."

Abbey smiled. "Thanks for the reassurance. I think I'll go find a nice hot shower. And then maybe you can wake him up?"

Dr. Martin laughed. "Mrs. Bartlet, you know better. It's now up to the President when he's going to wake up."

For the first time in hours, a small smile crossed Abbey's face. "Doesn't hurt to ask does it?"

"No, ma'am. But the person to ask is in there," pointing to ICU. "It's now all up to him."

She nodded. "Yeah, and he can be totally stubborn too."

Both doctors laughed. Finally, some of the tension had been broken. All Abbey could hope for now was a complete recovery.

The next step was to wean him off the ventilator.

That didn't happen until post-op day two.

When he was able to breathe on his own, Abbey finally relaxed.

"Hi, babe. How're you feeling?" as she pushed some of that unruly hair out of his face.

He opened his eyes and smiled weakly. "Fine," barely above a whisper.

"Don't try and speak right now. Your throat is irritated from the breathing tube. You've been through a lot. Just rest."

"Okay" was mouthed back. He slipped back into a healing sleep, just what the doctor ordered. Abbey continued to brush her hand across his face, knowing how lucky she was to have him still with her.

Quietly, she finally spoke the words that had been in her mind since this all began. "There'll be some changes made, Jed. And you aren't going to like them at all."